Running my Vauxhall Astra on veg oil

Rolandtheroadie

The Corsa has been harder to start of late. I'd put it down to an increased amount of veg being used and less diesel. Sister had it for a couple of days and struggled to get home in it yesterday.
Luckily I'd said where I kept a spare inline fuel filter and a screwdriver for this eventuality. All better now. Running great again.
Thats 3000 miles all told, and my first replacement filter.

rev_henry

I understand that Common Rail diesels can't run on unprocessed WVO like the old GM, PSA and mercedes diesels etc but if you get yourself a biodiesel generator you can convert the WVO into proper biodiesel, which is basically the same chemical as mineral diesel from the petrol station.

I plan to do this with a Mercedes S320 CDi or BMW 730d when I'm 25.

worried_jim

Due to global warming it was 14c outside this fine mid August morning and I still started ok first time after a bit of a crank and a splutter of white smoke. I reckon I'll be good on the veg till mid October then I'll start back on the dino again for winter which will be handy as my free supply has dried up. Its not a massive problem as I;ll just but in bulk and not have to worry about filtering and water content. Glad everyone is still interested and experimenting- just not on common rail engines please.

worried_jim

I've had a message from a forum member telling me of his success running a Peugeot 406 1.9TD on approx 80/20 SVO/dino (sometimes 100%) mix to date without any issues. I've wished him every success for the future and I hope to hear other positives as the word spreads.

benham3160

Ran my old Cavalier TD (Isuzu 1686cc) on a good old mix of mostly veg oil, and she purred past 300k until I sold her.

Worst thing I ever did was sell that car, sold it with a new MOT for £200...... Never known a car like that, purred along alll day, did 50MPG and cost absolutely pence to run, never put a foot wrong in the 150,000 I owned her..... Hell I miss her

Regards,
Andy

Rolandtheroadie

I'm lucky in that I've yet again realised money poured into a car is money wasted. Buy them cheap, run them till they're done, get another.

worried_jim

scotsman4th wrote: »

I'm lucky in that I've yet again realised money poured into a car is money wasted. Buy them cheap, run them till they're done, get another.

True ! For the price of a couple of payments, or tank fulls these days, you can get a car with mot and run it all year or longer if lucky. It wont be too long now until M plate Audi a4 tdi will be going for a few hundred, then it really will be stress free fuel free all year long.

Skeksis

worried_jim wrote: »

I've had a message from a forum member telling me of his success running a Peugeot 406 1.9TD on approx 80/20 SVO/dino (sometimes 100%) mix to date without any issues. I've wished him every success for the future and I hope to hear other positives as the word spreads.

Hi all,

Tis me that Jim has mentioned here! I've also realised that unless you have buckets of cash, buying a car in the few hundred pound bracket, especially a diesel that can run on veg oil, is a great solution. At the up to £400/£500 price range I operate in, the cars are almost disposable and previous owner's have taken the brunt of depreciation, and you can have a 'new' one every year if you want! Mine's great, it even has working air-con!

Good luck in your veg oil experiments.

Farzackerly

lyndasharp wrote: »

We're looking for something that will go in the engine bay without modifications to the chassis - don't want to end up with a Q plate! Also we're after something with a fairly good mpg - while the merc is lovely, it still only gets 35mpg and we'd prefer to go for something in the 50+ range.

Apparently the 1.5 from a Citroen AX will fit, I heard of 1 person doing that a few years ago. It's also got to be one that will join to a 5 speed Ford gearbox, as that's easily available with a Moggy fitting kit. Might need to get a custom flywheel made, and a custom manifold as well, but that's do-able. It'll also have front disk brakes instead of drums, to make sure it stops Will have to look into the Corsa option too!

I'd go for the Perkins Prima engine, as fitted to the Montego vans - there's still plenty of them around and they're bulletproof. Failing that, what about a pre-2000 Mondeo TDI diesel. Pre common-rail, many used Bosch pumps, and will fit your gearbox without too much drama.

Farzackerly

worried_jim wrote: »

tesco are doing redex for £1.80 (half price) so I've treated the old girl to a bottle as I am feeling guilty about the homebrew I am putting through the injectors.

I use ATF - specifically, Dexron II, as an injector cleaner. Costs about 13quid for 4.5L and just bung a half cupful in every tankful. It keeps the fuel system nicely cleaned as you go.